A total Rorschach Test
Surrealism movement: The Surrealism movement focused on these ideas of chaos and unconscious desires in an effort to dig deep into the unconscious mind to find inspiration for political and artistic creativity. They believed this rejection of overly rational thought would lead to superior ideas and expressions. Huh? My impression… I had nightmares. Even my cat got spooked from the sound.
The best I could figure out is that “Eraserhead” is about a schlep named Henry (John Nance) who is contemplating suicide because he has no job, a wife he’s not in love with and a deformed baby that needs constant attention. He says he’s on vacation but it seems to be a really long vacation. Due to him being a jerk he cheats on his wife, in front of his child, with the woman across the hall and murders his baby. And the baby knows what is happening. If he is working then it’s a crappy job but I think he got fired. He’s a cheat and a murderer so he may as well be a liar too. He lives in a crappy tenement, has no social skills and is as boring as hell. His life is crap. I may be wrong. I don’t know. It’s not really spelled out too well in the movie.
The disturbing images hurt my brain. The lady in the radiator is telling him it’s OK to kill the baby. Seems like either he's doing some serious drugs or he is working up an insanity plea to justify infanticide. “Why did you kill your child?” “The lady in the radiator with the bloated pock marked cheeks told me to.” I’m not sure but she may be telling him that it’s OK to kill himself too. If so, good for her. I don’t like him.
"Eraserhead" was released in 1977 and was written and directed by David Lynch. It took him five years to finish the film. If this is a representation of David Lynch’s early life and the struggles he went through. He needs some serious therapy. I fear there are some residual affects.
I have no explanation for the bloody chicken.